2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[everything bagel lover]

What schools are folks still waiting on that aren't soft r's? I know a good amount of people are done receiving news for this season.

For me, it's just UNLV. A current student in the draft said they're on spring break this week and then AWP is coming up. Part of me is optimistic because you never know, but the other part of me feels like I'm swinging outside of my league. 

Edit to add: I'm having a hard time breaking the habit of checking the forum, the draft, and the spreadsheet. I'm in at two great programs and the info on funding from CSU won't come through any of those means unless whoever has the GTA currently wants to pop in and tell me your plans lol I've been manifesting that you get into your top school that you'd prefer over CSU, wherever that is ❤️ 

But I've been obsessing over these things for months now and it's hard to break even though it's not fruitful in any way. What do I do instead? My work? Write something?

Edited March 21 by everything bagel lover
insanity

[Tinky C. Clown]

I'm basically at 0P and 99.9% sure where i'm going, but my brain cannot shake the urge to do the check spreadsheet/check gradcafe rotation every 20min. waiting for decisions is awful and i am happy to be done, but there's something grossly satisfying about waiting and hoping and checking. maybe i should start gambling for more dopamine hits.

[Nnenna14]

If you’ve been accepted at Brown and/or have any related info, can we connect please? Would really appreciate, as it’s crucial to where I am in my mfa process rn. Thanks in anticipation. 

[everything bagel lover]

1 minute ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

I'm basically at 0P and 99.9% sure where i'm going, but my brain cannot shake the urge to do the check spreadsheet/check gradcafe rotation every 20min. waiting for decisions is awful and i am happy to be done, but there's something grossly satisfying about waiting and hoping and checking. maybe i should start gambling for more dopamine hits.

Oh my god i just posted essentially the exact same thing lol

Can I ask where you think you're going? What's your current internal ranking system?

[crossingmyfingers1212]

checked brown portal- rejection posted 

[exvat]

Is there a Grad Cafe AWP meet-up? Even if just for hugs and therapist referrals 😂 

[Mr. Scribblo]

uni of miami interviewees--any idea if they're still sending out notifications or is it done?

and notre dame--any updates?

[nauseated]

received my Brown rejection. season done for me. Thank you all, and good luck for everyone waiting on news! Fingers crossed for all of you!!!

[Tinky C. Clown]

25 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Oh my god i just posted essentially the exact same thing lol

Can I ask where you think you're going? What's your current internal ranking system?

i’m going to uw seattle and will commit after talking to current students (as long as they don’t raise horrible red flags and tell me to run). my other funded offer is alabama but there’s the obvious problems with that plus i’ve determined that a lot of people there are doing genre fiction plus the bama teaching load is way higher for less money. waitlisted at some others but i don’t think i’d choose any over uw

[bucket]

well, brown puts me at 0A this round (not surprising, since i decided to apply very last minute and only applied to three programs). i'm so thrilled for everyone who got accepted this season, and hope the experience is incredible! as for anyone else who may be facing another season of apps, i hope to see some of you around here or draft

[misssalem]

Got my Brown rejection. It's my first cycle so while I I knew the competition is insanely tough, still bummed with all rejections. I'm going to process and eat lots of ice cream. Thank you all on this thread for the support and camaraderie

[glowingbrightly]

wishing the best for all fellow brown rejections ❤️ it has been a long cycle and congrats to everyone for making it this far regardless of outcomes

[Mystic_Sunshine]

2 minutes ago, bucket said:

well, brown puts me at 0A this round (not surprising, since i decided to apply very last minute and only applied to three programs). i'm so thrilled for everyone who got accepted this season, and hope the experience is incredible! as for anyone else who may be facing another season of apps, i hope to see some of you around here or draft

 

2 minutes ago, misssalem said:

Got my Brown rejection. It's my first cycle so while I I knew the competition is insanely tough, still bummed with all rejections. I'm going to process and eat lots of ice cream. Thank you all on this thread for the support and camaraderie

So sorry! I'm dealing with the same thing. 

Gonna take until May to relax and do things I've been to stressed to do and focus on moving 

and then it's back to writing so I can reapply. 

[Hjanep]

54 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

What schools are folks still waiting on that aren't soft r's? I know a good amount of people are done receiving news for this season.

For me, it's just UNLV. A current student in the draft said they're on spring break this week and then AWP is coming up. Part of me is optimistic because you never know, but the other part of me feels like I'm swinging outside of my league. 

Edit to add: I'm having a hard time breaking the habit of checking the forum, the draft, and the spreadsheet. I'm in at two great programs and the info on funding from CSU won't come through any of those means unless whoever has the GTA currently wants to pop in and tell me your plans lol I've been manifesting that you get into your top school that you'd prefer over CSU, wherever that is ❤️ 

But I've been obsessing over these things for months now and it's hard to break even though it's not fruitful in any way. What do I do instead? My work? Write something?

I think there’s a wisp of hope for Montana still. Otherwise I’m done

[nauseated]

5 minutes ago, misssalem said:

Got my Brown rejection. It's my first cycle so while I I knew the competition is insanely tough, still bummed with all rejections. I'm going to process and eat lots of ice cream. Thank you all on this thread for the support and camaraderie

same here! think I'm gonna wait at least a couple of years to reapply to MFAs but still an insane learning curve nonetheless

[choltebito]

Hey all! I was waitlisted at a school a few weeks ago and sent a short response thanking them for the update and expressing enthusiasm for the program (but I didn’t say that it was my top choice, bc it wasn’t at the time). Now circumstances have changed and it has become my top choice/I’d be very likely to go if accepted. Would it be appropriate/help my chances to email them again and say that? I want to make my enthusiasm clear, but I don’t want to hurt my chances by bugging them too much. (I’m also considering an offer from another school, which I could mention if that would help…)

Edited March 21 by choltebito
addition

[kaleidoscopegurl]

Got the Brown rejection. Finally done! It's a relief. Congrats to all of us for trying this application cycle. See yall next time. 

Edited March 21 by kaleidoscopegurl
Missed a lot of words.

[DJ Lambchop]

Welp, that’s two cycles in a row of all hard Rs. And now to apply for law school instead….

[Hjanep]

Last night while trying to check my NYU portal on my phone, I accidentally stumbled on NYU’s MBA/MFA dual degree page that helps prepare people for production jobs in I’m assuming TV and film. I already have an MBA, did not even apply to NYU back then because I didn’t want to navigate moving myself/my husband/my dog to NYC at the time (now I live here but whatever). But this seems like a cool program? And one that might bring some more work opportunities beyond teaching? Food for thought for the group. 

[smallchange]

50 minutes ago, exvat said:

Is there a Grad Cafe AWP meet-up? Even if just for hugs and therapist referrals 😂 

I live in LA and probably won’t be going bc budget but down to meet up! Have heard of some after parties and such too

[exvat]

7 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

Last night while trying to check my NYU portal on my phone, I accidentally stumbled on NYU’s MBA/MFA dual degree page that helps prepare people for production jobs in I’m assuming TV and film. I already have an MBA, did not even apply to NYU back then because I didn’t want to navigate moving myself/my husband/my dog to NYC at the time (now I live here but whatever). But this seems like a cool program? And one that might bring some more work opportunities beyond teaching? Food for thought for the group. 

That's a totally cool option, def. I also saw some cool combo degrees while prepping for my application cycle this time, but my focus is v narrow (MFA only), so I didn't bite. But the Columbia JD/MFA program was kinda compelling for a hot sec. Then I came to my senses and remembered getting an MS in something I wasn't passionate about, and how it nearly killed me.

[pananoprodigy]

I want to say a massive ✨Thank You💫 to everybody who responded to my tiny wee crash out post the other day: @exvat, @curfew, @zaira, @everything bagel lover, @Sumire11, @Tuxedocat, @Chex. I'm so sorry if I missed anyone but I read them all with so much gratitude. Your words were so kind and I'm just really grateful for this community. 

edit: And for reporting purposes I also got my Brown rejection today. Taking Ls left and right and still we rise lol 

Edited March 21 by pananoprodigy

[analog_e]

Well, it's a bust. I cried for a while, including a fair bit in public while eating breakfast, but I'm feeling fine now. Just glad to have the closure. See you all next year for the arc where I get accepted to every program : )

[exvat]

13 minutes ago, exvat said:

Then I came to my senses and remembered getting an MS in something I wasn't passionate about, and how it nearly killed me.

Words of caution to those looking at another application cycle and considering degrees they're not exactly stoked about.

[Hjanep]

7 minutes ago, exvat said:

Words of caution to those looking at another application cycle and considering degrees they're not exactly stoked about.

Ok yes agree but I do just want to say. MBA is so helpful for understanding a lot of very applicable things regarding how the world works and it’s pretty broad in application. Definitely follow your dreams follow your passion etc. But if you’re thinking of maybe doing a different grad program, it’s one that is way less narrow than say law school or med school. And there is something deeply satisfying about going into an app cycle with a little more transparency around your odds based on GMAT. That being said, I’ll be seeing you all back here in the fall for round 3 of MFA apps but if I didn’t already have an MBA the NYU program would be interesting to me. 🤗